Hack

At a time when beekeepers are quitting the industry, 23-year-old Sophia Croker is doubling down.

The 'Bee Drover', as she's known on social media, wants more people to know about the hidden struggles behind the honey in your kitchen.

Sophia's life changed course dramatically five years ago, when she suddenly took up an offer to buy 120 hives.

The fourth-generation commercial beekeeper now spends her days droving hives around rural Australia, chasing honey flows and pollinating crops.

It's a lifestyle she loves. But varroa mite, soaring fuel costs, and imported honey are pushing Australian beekeepers to the brink.

In this week's long listen, Sophia tells Angel about her life on the land, why she chose to carry on her family's legacy, and what you need to know about the honey on supermarket shelves.

Guests:

• Sophia Croker, bee drover

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Actor and director Rebel Wilson has been cleared of defamation. Here's what went down in court. 

And we bring you an update from the Middle East as the US reveals the cost of its war with Iran is $53 billion. 

Plus, is it getting harder to run a small business? 

We also answer your questions about the AusAlert test, which will play a 10-second siren and vibrate on all compatible phones Monday, July 27.

Listen now:

01:07 - Rebel's court case

05:18 - Fighting escalates in the Middle East

09:24 - What it's like to run a small business today

23:21 - AusAlert explained

Guests:

• Lydia Feng, reporter, ABC
• Skye Cappuccio, CEO, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia
• Paula Dootson, Associate Professor, QUT Faculty of Business and Law 

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Lao officials say they do not have enough evidence to lay charges over the suspected methanol poisoning deaths of Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones. We speak to Bianca's father about their family's fight for justice.

And who is Andy Burnham? We unpack what you need to know about Britain's new Prime Minister.

Plus, we find out why Australia’s only approved home test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea has been pulled from shelves. 

And 40 per cent of Aussie athletes live below the poverty line. So how do they fund their Olympics dream? 

Listen now:

01:11 - Who is leading Britain now?

06:43 -  What Mark Jones wants you to know about Bianca's death

19:34 - What was wrong with this STI test?

25:15 - Saving for the Olympics

Guests:

• Mark Jones, Bianca Jones' father
• Achol Arok, reporter, The Guardian

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been arrested in Miami after UK prosecutors said they had brought further rape and sex trafficking charges against them.

And is smoking cigarettes back? We unpack the stats on nicotine consumption and whether a normalisation of illicit tobacco has hooked a whole new generation.

Plus, the World Cup is over. What now? 

Listen now: 

01:05 - Why the Tate brothers were arrested

05:30 - Smoking rates explained

20:24 - World Cup reflections

Guests:

• Becky Freeman, Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney
• Declan Byrne, ABC Sports Reporter

Sydney's newest performing arts venue had only been open for about a week when it was forced to close after a storm of controversy.

The Divine Playhouse was set up in a deconsecrated church and has been the focus of intense debate after some Christians accused the events company of "mocking their faith".

This week on hack, you'll hear both sides of the debate — from the queer community say they have a right to artistic expression, and religious protesters who say symbols of faith should not be mocked.

Guests:

• Etcetera Etcetera, Artist and performer
• Antonia Marie, Catholic creator

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

The Prime Minister won't be attending the NT's Garma Festival because he hasn't "had a day off all year".

Meanwhile, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been spotted with mining magnate Gina Rinehart holidaying in Sicily at the resort where The White Lotus was filmed. So, what do you think about pollies taking time off?

Also, the government this week announced so-called "Australian standards for AI" and vowed to protect the country's books, music, arts and news when it comes to training AI models.

Plus, a Perth plumber has gone viral for carrying out a citizen's arrest of someone stealing a car, but not without whipping out his phone to film it first.

Host Dave Marchese is joined by wealth and culture reporter Mary Madigan and the National Account reporter Archie Milligan.

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

A new inclusive arts venue in a deconsecrated church was ordered to cease operation by the landlord under "offensive trade", following protests from religious groups. So, is it a celebration of inclusivity or has it crossed the line? We speak to a performer impacted by the closures, and a protester.

Plus, sober advocate Clay Scott sits down with Dave to talk about how his drug use led to a full-blown addiction, prison and multiple suicide attempts, before he found sobriety. 

If you or anyone you know needs support help is available, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Listen now:

00:48 - The Divine Playhouse debate

15:13 - Surviving addiction

Guests:

• Etcetera Etcetera, Artist and performer
• Antonia Marie, Catholic creator
• Clay Scott

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

The first time Clay Scott tried drugs he was just 12 years old, getting high during his lunch break at school. Within a few years, he had spiralled into a devastating addiction. 

Clay ended up being arrested, going to jail and destroying relationships with his friends and family. In his darkest moments, he says he even attempted to take his own life. 

Now, he's almost 500 days sober and has completely transformed his life. 

In this week's long listen, Clay tells Dave about his journey overcoming addiction, and how he hopes to help others embrace sobriety. 

If you or anyone you know needs support help is available, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Guests:

• Clay Scott

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

The PM wants to manage AI "the Australian way" and has established an Office of AI that will cover everything from music to data centres. 

Today, we hear from musicians who discovered their music was skimmed to help train AI models, and Dave asks Minister of Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres whether the government's protections ago far enough.

Listen now:

01:17 - The Aussie artists who's music is being used to train AI 

07:07 - Copyright law vs AI law

14:17 - The government's new Office of AI 

Guests:

• Dr Andrew Cullen, AI lecturer at the University of Melbourne
• Tim Ayers, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.

Get the whole story from hack:

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Could we see the cost of some uni degrees change? Because there are calls for the government to dump a scheme that's more than doubled the cost of some degrees. And the calls are coming from within the house.

Also, women's safety is back in the national spotlight after four women and girls were killed last week in separate incidents. We speak to Australia's first Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner about why we're still seeing this.

And could local government ever be cool? We meet the group trying to make council meetings more bingeable than reality TV. 

Listen now:

01:59 - Uni debt

19:31 - Women's safety

25:33 - Can council be cool? 

Guests:

• George Williams, Vice-Chancellor and President at Western Sydney University
• Micaela Cronin, Australia's first Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm